ThoughtGallery.org > China’s Unfolding Romantic Revolution: Is It Powerful Enough to Reshape Marriage?

China’s Unfolding Romantic Revolution: Is It Powerful Enough to Reshape Marriage?

For centuries, Chinese marriage involved matchmakers, child brides, dowries, and concubines. Change entered the picture with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, but still the Western ideal of romantic love was frowned upon. Fast forward a few decades, and with China’s increased wealth, love is in the air—or is it? Couples are holding hands, going on dates, and insisting on choosing their own spouses; but have marriage norms fundamentally altered? At this event, 2006 alumna and couples therapist Melissa Schneider, LCSW (bio) discusses the findings of her book, The Ugly Wife Is a Treasure at Home: True Stories of Love and Marriage in Communist China. Prompted by a move to Shenzhen, China, just two days after her own wedding, Schneider grew curious about the dynamics underpinning love and relationships in this very different part of the world. She conducted interviews with 48 people, all of whom were born after the rise of the communist party (between the 1950s and 1990s). Twenty-eight of their stories are included in her book.











When: Wed., Sep. 25, 2019 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: Columbia University
116th St. & Broadway
212-854-1754
Price: Free
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For centuries, Chinese marriage involved matchmakers, child brides, dowries, and concubines. Change entered the picture with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, but still the Western ideal of romantic love was frowned upon. Fast forward a few decades, and with China’s increased wealth, love is in the air—or is it? Couples are holding hands, going on dates, and insisting on choosing their own spouses; but have marriage norms fundamentally altered? At this event, 2006 alumna and couples therapist Melissa Schneider, LCSW (bio) discusses the findings of her book, The Ugly Wife Is a Treasure at Home: True Stories of Love and Marriage in Communist China. Prompted by a move to Shenzhen, China, just two days after her own wedding, Schneider grew curious about the dynamics underpinning love and relationships in this very different part of the world. She conducted interviews with 48 people, all of whom were born after the rise of the communist party (between the 1950s and 1990s). Twenty-eight of their stories are included in her book.

Buy tickets/get more info now